A Packed 25th Anniversary Summer for Inspire Youth Arts!

The award-winning team passionately believe that all young people should have the opportunity to access the highest quality arts: explore their own capabilities and strengths, unlock their full potential, and to make the unimaginable happen! It's been a packed Summer of music and dance festivals, Summer Schools, film screenings and more. 

Find out what the team has been up to throughout this special anniversary Summer. 

Internationally acclaimed Candoco Dance Company were at the heart of an Inclusive Dance Festival called Unify on 15 May at Mansfield Palace Theatre. A brand-new commission funded by Arts Council England was the featured piece and had a company of 22 disabled young dancers, disabled professional Dancers, non-disabled young dancers and professional dancers. The Piece was called ‘You’re on Mute!’ dealing with issues from lockdown, exploring and co-creating choreographic themes for the piece.

Unify also included inclusive dance companies from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire (in partnership with the Sleaford Dance Hub).

Watch 'You're on Mute!' below.

IYA had not 1 but 2 winners at this prestigious annual event! Future Sound of Nottingham took place at Rock City on 3 July resulting in ALT BLK ERA and Betsey B being invited to perform on main stage at Splendour 2022. This annual event is judged by industry professionals and the audience. Event hosts DHP and Nusic hosts were blown away by IYA artists. This is the second year that Future Sound of Nottingham has been won by an IYA artist.  

TOLFest returned this year with not only the superb BBC/eNGine Room event at Metronome, but also two other highly anticipated events. On 2 July, The Old Library, hosted a music showcase featuring a superb array of up and coming talent from IYA projects, to a sold-out crowd. Performers from The Old Library Rockschool and Singer Songwriter Academies took to the stage alongside young people from Carlton-Le-Willows, East Leake and Outwood Valley Academies. 

On 9 July, an inspirational night of dance and film was held at The Old Library, showcasing dance groups SANDance, Square peg, MX4, X3 alongside some superb IYA film showings. 

Both events were hosted by young work experience students. 

On 7 July, IYA presented their BBC Introducing/eNGine Room Label Showcase at Metronome Nottingham. Hosted by BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson, this showcase featured some of the best new Notts talent released on the eNGine Room label including: Jack Chapman, whose second single ‘Into the Middle’ was released in March, and Sam Adams who returned to showcase a clutch of new material recorded in April 2022. 

ALT BLK ERA performed some of their sublime releases, as well as showcased a special collaboration with Able Orchestra’s Jess Fisher, who also performed solo material. 

The line-up was completed with Betsey B.   

On Saturday 16 July, our Miner2Major commissioned film 'From Miner to Major' about the hidden Sherwood Forest was premiered on the big screen by the RSPB at their Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre as part of their Films in the Forest Event. 

Participants, contributors and their family and friends all settled down with their picnics to watch the film which was shown on a 20 square metre screen next to the visitor centre amphitheatre and screened in between Disney's animated tale 'Robin Hood' and the blockbuster 'A Knights Tale'. 

The film which was scripted, filmed and animated by a group of young film makers with its accompanying soundtrack composed and performed by our soundtrack ensemble, brings an intriguing new perspective on Sherwood Forest, taking us from a drone's eye view to a journey of underground discovery, immersing us in the unseen connections of the hidden forest.  

To find out more about the project check out the project blogsite. 

Watch From Miner to Major below.

Following their success at Future Sound of Nottingham, eNGine Room artistsALT BLK ERA opened the main stage at Splendour Festival at Wollaton Park on Saturday 23 July, and former IYA artist Betsey B opened the main stage on Sunday 24 July. Both artists were in great company, performing on the same stage as the likes of Richard Ashcroft, Anne- Marie, Supergrass, The Human League, Becky Hill, and many more!  

The first everNottinghamshire Day festival took place on Saturday 27 August at Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre. Hosted by Nottingham-born vocalist and songwriter Rob Green, IYA bought some of the county’s most exciting artists to the festival stage! The line-up included Jess Fisher, Jack Chapman, Ashley Westlake, and ALT BLK ERA, as well as former IYA artists Betsey B and Remi CB. All artists gave superb performances, from classical to indie, electronic to acoustic, it was a true showcase of home-grown talent.  

Over 200 young people took part in various IYA Summer Schools this August. Summer Schools included the Gedling Junior Dance Summer School, an IYA Senior Dance Intensive based on The Little Mermaid, 4 VR family activity days countywide, Flying High Dance, Drama and Music Summer School, and the Holiday Activity Fund SANDance Summer School. The Holiday Activity Fund SANDance Workshops return this October! Join the SANDance team at Valley Leisure Centre in Worksop 24 - 27 October, 10am - 2pm for 4 days of fun dance workshops. To find out more and get involved contact iya@inspireculture.org.uk.

First Art’s annual Mansfield Town festival returned in September bringing national and international street theatre and performances across the town. IYA put together an exciting music stage featuring young artists, many of which are part of the eNGine Room Record Label. ALt Blk Era, Betsey B , AC trio, Jack and Joshua Todd and Caleb Bell.  

To find out more about upcoming opportunities with Inspire Youth Arts, pick up a copy of our Autumn brochure. It’s packed full of inspiring arts, dance, music and digital opportunities for young people, our regular groups programme, as well as details of the exciting affordable theatre programme at The Old Library Mansfield, featuring some of the best performances on the circuit!  

Pick up from The Old Library Mansfield, surrounding Inspire Libraries or view online.